Welcome to
Canons Ashby House
Canons Ashby
Useful things:
This atmospheric building is the ancestral home of the Dryden family, built from the remains of the medieval priory following its dissolution by Henry VIII. Almost unchanged since the early eighteenth century, the house contains contents accumulated over four hundred years by the Drydens. Tudor, Jacobean and Baroque elements blend together to form a rich backdrop of panelling, tapestries, wall paintings and decorative plasterwork. Today, the house and collections are presented to echo the time of Sir Henry Dryden, “the Antiquary” who was master of Canons Ashby from 1837 to 1899. His precisely scaled drawings and plans of Find out more: Canons Ashby still inform pick up a copy of conservation and repair the Canons Ashby work today.
guide book from the Coach House
The Priory Church
Explore this warm and welcoming family home Enjoy the lovingly restored formal gardens Discover the history of the priory church and ancient parkland Indulge yourself in one of Northamptonshire’s finest garden tearooms
Wheelchairs access: limited in the gardens and house. A virtual tour of the house and gardens is available. The visitor buggy can take you from the car park to the Coach House and back again at the end of the day. Please ask for assistance. Four-legged friends: dogs are welcome in the parkland, paddock and car park on a lead. Assistance dogs are allowed across the property. There’s lots of parkland to walk in and water bowls are available.
Established around 1250 by a group of Augustinian canons, this modest priory church was originally built on the scale of a small cathedral. Canons Ashby’s priory was amongst the first of the religious houses to be recommended for dissolution by Henry VIII. The once extensive priory was reduced to the fraction that still stands today.
Eating and Shopping: freshly made, locally sourced and delicious. Visit the Stables Tearoom for everything from a slice of cake to a light meal. Browse the Coach House for a gift for a friend, or a souvenir for yourself.
Picnickers: there are great spots to picnic in the paddock, parkland and car park, but please take your litter home with you.
This window in the courtyard was taken from the priory following its dissolution
The Dryden family came into the Canons Ashby estate, which included the remains of the priory, by marriage in the 1550s. They have since used it as their personal church, as well as offering it for communal services and ceremonies.
Fun in the gardens and parkland: families can borrow a tracker pack or try out a discovery trail. Explore the ancient parkland and discover its secrets on a parkland trail, or have a game of croquet in the formal gardens. Please ask the team in the Coach House. First aid: please ask for help in the Coach House or from any member of the team. When we close: last entry to the house is half an hour before closing time. Closing times are seasonal so please check in the coach house to find when we are open until today.
Start your visit at the Coach House to find out what’s on today
Please do: v Show your membership card at the Coach House when you arrive, even if you’re just popping in for a scone. v Take plenty of photos and videos, but no flash or tripods in the house please. We’d love to see your pics and videos on Twitter via @CanonsAshbyNT. v Help look after the house by not wearing sharp heels or muddy shoes. We have slipper socks that you’re welcome to wear! v Support the tranquil atmosphere around the house and set your phone to silent. v Be careful when exploring by looking out for uneven stairs and low ceilings. v Leave pushchairs and large bags with us as you enter the house, we’ll look after them until you leave. v Get involved by joining the volunteer team at Canons Ashby. There’s lots of different roles all across the property to enjoy. Contact us: Phone: 01327 861900 Email: canonsashby@nationaltrust.org.uk Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/canonsashby Twitter: @CanonsAshbyNT Address: Canons Ashby, Daventry, Northamptonshire NN11 3SD
For alternative formats, please call us on 0121 244 7460 or email mi.customerenquiries@nationaltrust.org.uk Leaflet designed by TypeStart, Illustrations: SS Crome and Claud Page. Printed on 100% recycled paper. Please recycle this leaflet after use. © National Trust 2014. National Trust is an independent registered charity, number 205846
Welcome to Canons Ashby’s gardens The gardens as you see them today are the realised dream of Edward Dryden, little altered following his grand reimagining of Canons Ashby in 1710. Edward’s enhancements reflect his taste for the latest fashions. The descending terraces, gravel paths, sculpted topiary and ranging vistas showcase contemporary garden designers’ love of symmetry and formal elegance. Decline & restoration in the 20th century Subsequent generations of Drydens continued to tend and care for the gardens, but did little to modernise them. After centuries of splendour, they fell into wilderness throughout the twentieth century. When the National Trust acquired the property in 1981, the finery of Edward’s gardens had been lost under years of neglect. Chris Smith and his team of staff and volunteers have recently completed a restoration project using plans meticulously recorded by Sir Henry Dryden, who inherited Canons Ashby in 1837. As a result, Victorian tastes are reflected in the bedding schemes, whilst Edward’s vision lives on in the structure and layout of the gardens.
12 4
B Sundial terrace
The artfully grown topiary trees serve to frame the vista down towards the lion gates and beyond. The sundial dates from 1710 and remains a focal point in the vista.
5
G 6
A
F
3 2
The garden in Sir Henry’s time
C Fruit and vegetable terraces
D Lion gates
These impressive gates adorned with the lion and sphere of the Dryden family crest mark the end of the private garden. The vista historically continued on much further, flanked by two symmetrical lines of elm trees. The National Trust plans to restore these avenues using a dutch elm disease resistant variety of elm tree.
B
E
In Sir Henry’s time plenty of space was dedicated to growing a variety of fruit and vegetables, and evidence suggests that this terrace has been used for a similar purpose for centuries.
9
8 11
C
10
7
1 E Mulberry lawn Despite being over one hundred years old, the mulberry tree still produces delicious fruit every August. The garden drops away into the field below, separated by a wall. This arrangement prevents livestock from entering the formal gardens without interrupting the views of the countryside. The wooden steps lead down to the ancient parkland. F Croquet lawn
A Top terrace
Standing on the steps at the foot of the tower is the perfect place from which to admire the gardens’ most stunning vista. The flower beds are replanted in spring and summer, inspired by Victorian styles.
The magnificent cedar of Lebanon was planted in 1780. This tree used to be twice as tall until the storms of 1987 brought it crashing down onto the nearby wall. The metal target in the corner was used for shooting practice with muskets and pistols.
D G Green court
This court served as the main entrance to the house with a gravel drive, until 1840 when Sir Henry turfed it over. The statue of the shepherd boy was made in 1713, and honours the actions of a shepherd during a Civil War skirmish at Canons Ashby. The fern border, shaded by the overhanging cedar, is typical of Victorian gardeners’ passion for the exotic. It contains over 31 different varieties of fern. On the opposite side, the pear border’s trees produce a pleasant mix of pretty flowers and juicy pears.
1 Car park
7 Parkland
House 2 Coach Reception & Shop
Church of 8 Priory St Mary
3 Stables Tearoom
9 Walk to Priory Church
4 Toilets
10 Wild play area
5 House entrance
11 Paddock
6 Garden entrance
12 Site of medieval village